Google Alerts

Do you have some news or particular topics that you would like to follow? Do you feel like keeping yourself updated from certain issues or blogs? Do you find yourself consistently searcing for the same term at Google?

If yes, we would like to introduce you the awesome page Google Alert. Google Alert will send you an email whenever there are relevant results to your search. You can further refine your alert by setting the frequency of receiving emails, sources, languages, regions and number of results. Hence, you will not be discouraged from receiving too many junk emails but only the best results from Google. And more, you can keep yourself updated and save your time from searching the same topics everyday. 

Here are the 4 simple steps to set up Google Alert in 2-minutes-time.

1. Click Google Alert or you can simply type Google Alert on Google Search, it should be shown in the first result.

2. You should see the "Search" box on the top of this blue-ish page. Type the news/topics that you wish to follow. Immediately, it will show you some Alert Preview for you to double confirm whether these are the updates that you are looking for. Otherwise, you can simply type in another keywords/phrases to obtain better results that suit you.

3. Then, type in your email address but do not click the "Create Alert" just yet but the "Show Options" beside it. Here, you can start setting up your preference. For instance, if you are interested in looking for migration to Country A, you would not want to get the results/news from other countries, i.e. you can select the region box there for this specific preference. 

4. After you have done all the setting, click the "Create Alert" and you have officially created an alert. 

Congrats! You're done.

[Tip 1] The alert is not limited to just one. You can create a few but bear in mind, too many alerts can spam your email quite badly which can turn out to be very annoying.

[Tip 2] This may be subjective but usually, users will select at most once a day and to only get the best result. This means you will be updated everyday and only with those best results that you should spend some time to read on.

[Tip 3] You can create alert to follow your favourite magazines such as Business Insider/ Harvard Business Review or National Geographics to get free articles.

Credit Card Double Charged

This is my personal experience recently. On a typical weekend, I shopped for groceries in a sundry shop nearby my house. Like usual, I handed my credit card to the cashier to pay my bill. The cashier inserted the card into the machine. A few minutes later, she told me that their machine is offline and cannot be used. So, I ended up paying the bill with cash.

A few days later, while I browse through my credit card transaction history, I noticed that they did charge my credit card. I remembered clearly that I DID NOT sign any transaction receipts. Luckily I kept the shop receipt which stated I paid by cash. So, I informed the store manager and the issue resolved pretty quickly.

The store manager told me while this is not common, it does happen occasionally. Therefore, if you face similar situation like me, keep calm and follow the steps below:

1. Evidence

Collect documents such as the transaction receipts and credit card statement. You can print screen the online banking statement.

2. Inform

Visit the store/shop to inform the store manager. The shop will give instruction to the bank to refund your money. 

3. Check

Keep an eye whether the refund is made. This might take awhile, depending on how quick the shop inform the bank.

There is no use in calling to the bank or credit card company. You will have to communicate with the transaction counterpart. 

[Tip 1] This kind of situation is rather common, therefore, do speak up if they double charge you. The shop know how to handle it.

[Tip 2] Usually, the act is unintentional. Therefore, do speak nicely with the manager about the situation. They are more than happy to help you getting back the money.

[Tip 3] It might be a good practise to keep your receipts for awhile, so that you can have supporting evidence if this were to happen.

5 Effortless Ways to Save Water

With the constant news feed of Selangor-KL water crisis, the short term strategy in alleviating the problem is perhaps by reducing the households consumption.

As responsible citizens, here are 5 effortless ways that could save water.

1. Take shorter bath

Instead of having 30 minutes water wasting bath, take a short shower. Reduce your "thinking time" in your shower room.

2. Off the tap while brushing teeth

A lot of people have the bad habit of letting the water to flow while they brush their teeth. Just a simple tap could stop the fresh water from flowing to drain.

3. Fix leaking pipes

Not only save you money, it could also put off one of the things in your to-do list.

4. Accumulate Laundry

Instead of washing your clothes everyday, accumulate laundry and wash it in one go every 3 days. Not only save you money, but detergents and time too.

5. Collect rain-water 

Put a bucket or two outside to collect rain-water. You could use it to wash the front yard or to water the plants. Free water which is effortless to do. But keep in mind not to let the still water be there for long to avoid mosquito breeding.

How to Use Waze App (With Step-by-Step Screenshots)

If you have no sense of direction, you will no longer get lost by friending Waze. Personally, I found Waze easy to use, free, updated and most importantly give 95% navigation accuracy.

To all directionally challenged readers, let's learn how to use Waze.

1. In case you have no idea how does it look like:) Download if you do not have one yet.

2. After you open this, it should show you the map where you are currently located at

3. You should notice the Waze logo on your bottom left. Click that logo to show the menu as follows:

4. Click the "Navigate" and you can start typing your destination, eg. Lowyat MSC Sdn Bhd.
5. You should then see the image below, click "Go" to start your journey or you can even click the "Add to Favorites" to save this location so that you can have access to this location more easily in the future.

5. You should then see the picture below showing you the expected arrival time and the distance. Click "Go" to start your journey.

6. As you can see, it shows you your "next action" at the top of the screen.

7. Say you would like to know how will it lead you to your destination, you can just simply click the "next action" at the top of the screen and you will see all turns as shown in the picture below. How convenient!

8. You can even choose the routes that you would like to go. To do this, click the Waze icon at the bottom left to pop out the image below. Click "Routes" and you should see all the available routes that you might want to take for your convenience, eg. to avoid toll.

You can also on/off the sound by clicking the sound icon.

[Tip 1] Waze does not consume a lot of internet data. Its internet usage is almost equivalent to using Whatsapp in your phone. So, no worry of draining your data.

[Tip 2] However, it will consume your phone battery. So, it is better for you to bring power bank or USB to charge your phone in the car.

[Tip 3] Waze will show you the name of the road if you press the road for more than 3 secs.

Lets get started, DRIVE SAFE! 

10 Ways to Earn Extra Money in University/College

Coming from middle class family, I totally understand the financial constraints that we met in our college time. With the increasing education costs and living expenses, we could not fully depend on our parents. If you are a 80s or early 90s, life will be slightly easier with the help of PTPTN. 

However, starting November 2014, only children of BR1M recipients able to apply for full loan.  This changes will see a reduction of 5% to public institutions students and reduction of 15% to private institutions. Click here to view the news.

Instead of constant lamenting, we ought to think ways to fill in the discrepancies.

Here are 10 ways to earn extra money in university/college.

1. Tutoring

If you have good academic performance, you can offer tutoring services to juniors in units that you excel. There is no costs involved and only some pre-reading required. Plus, it enhanced your communication skills and enlarge your network with junior.

Otherwise, you can opt to tutor primary/secondary schools children. If you have a passion in teaching, this might be a good time for you to gain experience. If you like children, it would be a double plus, as you are doing things you like.

2. Restaurants/Cafes

The most mainstream part time job is non other than being waiter/waitress in restaurants/cafes. No costs involved and only required your energy and time. Plus, it gives you working experience and the chance to serve other people. My own experience told me that you will meet various kinds of people and in the end, you will learn to treat other people well, which is so important to a well-being.

If you are passionate in coffees or baking, it is a good chance to learn a skill by working in a restaurant/cafe. I learnt different types of wine and restaurant management systems during my time.

3. Weekend promoters

In Kuala Lumpur, there are always exhibitions which required weekend promoters. The pay is usually per day and is highly flexible. It also trains your 'selling' skills which will be important in many careers. Of course, you will also have many contacts from different companies and networks. Most importantly, these jobs are flexible and will not affect your studies.

4. Multi-Layer Marketing

You can join multi-layer marketing such as AmWay to increase your passive income. Besides teaching you selling skills, they have constant meet-up to enlarge your network and talks to keep you inspired (not only in selling, but in life too). Besides, this job can be continued even after you graduated. However, noted that there are annual membership fees involved.

5. Insurance/Property Agents

If you are serious, you can spend some time applying for insurance agents/property agents license in your uni time. Starting early, you are earning commissions by the time your peer friends graduate. Also, it helps you expanding network and your 'selling' skills not mentioning the lucrative commissions.

6. Partial Internship

If you are really passionate with what you are studying, I recommend you to find a part-time internship. It might be rare but I do think some small companies are willing to for cheap labour. For example, my friend who is studying Quantity Surveying works in a construction company. Besides gaining industrial experience earlier, you might be able to find a mentor to help you with career. You are already one step ahead than your peers.

7. Working in University ( Admin, Residential Advisor, Research Assistant)

If you have no luck with all of the above so far, try to work in your university compound. Are they looking for some admin staffs? Are you a suitable candidate for residential advisor? Keep your eyes and ears open, you might able to get some part-time jobs in the university. The best thing working in uni is you save your time and costs travelling.

8. Online Business

Online business has been a trend lately and with the advancements in the virtual world, doing online business is easier than ever. Sell some things that you are passionate about. For example, if you have high fashion sense, you could sell dresses/accessories or if you are gadget fans, you can sell phone accessories. It involves costs for getting inventories but will give you entrepreneur experiences.

9. Selling crafts

If you are arty enough, consider selling some crafts. It could be printed t-shirts, customized shoes, jewelry, customized notebooks, etc. The ideas have no end. Customized items are valuable and people willing to pay for it. If you aimed to be designers, it could be your first portfolio that will add extra colours in your resume. Again, you are already one step ahead than your peer friends.

10. Selling bento/baked goods

Do you like to cook or bake? Make good use of your talent by selling your products. Living far away from home, some of your classmates might dread to have a home-cooked meal. Fulfill their desires by selling bento or inviting them to have dinner at your house. Believe me, home-cooked meal is always better than outside food. Plus, you just have to cook more portions when you prepare your food.

If you are good in baking, you can sell cookies during Raya or Chinese New Years or some people just love cookies anytime in a year. 

Of course, the above only serve as ideas and there are a lot more. More importantly, you should think of what you like to do and what you are good in doing. Monies will always follow.